360 
COLEOPTERA. 
ill India and the larvse apparently feed wholly upon trees, uncultivated 
shrubs and herbs. The group is characteristic of the temperate regions 
and only a few come into our limits, the majority being Himalayan. 
A large number of larvae of exotic species have been described and these 
are known to feed openly upon the leaves of plants as do the Galerucini. 
Phcedon hrasicce , Baly., is a steel-blue beetle found feeding upon 
mustard in Golagllat (Indian Mus. Notes, Yol. Ill, p. 44). Plagiodera 
is represented by several species and Lina is represented by the Euro¬ 
pean L. populi, Linn., which occurs in the Himalayas. Chrysomela 
includes a variety of moderate-sized beetles, some of bright colours, 
the commonest plains species of a dull black colour ; two are abundant, 
the spotted Chrysomela , C. guttata , Geb., and the unspotted species C. 
Pasccei, Jac. Paropsides hieroglyphicus, Gebk, breeds freely on pear 
trees in the hills and is a pest in Shillong. 
Galerucince. Halticini. —A large 
group with over 150 described 
Indian species and many more to 
be recorded. Podontia is common 
in the hills and moister plain areas, 
P. affinis , Grond., and P. 14 -punc¬ 
tata, Linn., being the familiar spe¬ 
cies. The latter is recorded as 
breeding in Calcutta on Spondias 
mangiferce ; the larva is covered in 
excrement and pupates in a rough 
cell of earth in the soil, the imago 
appearing yearly in August (Indian 
Mus. Notes. Yol. IY, p. 68). Clitea 
picta , Baly., is a small oval brown 
and black species found feeding, as 
an imago, on the leaves of Bael 
(Aegle marmelos). The beetles jump 
freely as do most of this group. 
The larva is found boring in the 
shoots of this plant, the slender 
twigs being tunnelled down the cen¬ 
tre but little harm being done. The 
Fig-. 234.— Podontia 14-functata. 
(I. M. N.) 
